December 12, 2011

Hey mom!

To start off I didn't feel any earthquake mom ha ha. I didn't even hear about one here. So don't worry about me mom. Nothing happens here in Queretaro really. So I'm good. this last week was a little difficult. We are finding people but nobody can go to church on Sundays so it sucks, cause if they don't go to church they don't really progress. We found one family that was really cool. The dad told us that he has prayed the day before to learn more about God and we showed up the next day, but we are still trying to work with him. We taught him and his family and one of his friends. The friend told us, I'm gonna stay here cause I feel the spirit. So that was a cool little comment. He doesn't live in our area though so we will have to pass his reference. We gave them a Book of Mormon and that will have to be the tool that convinces them about the truth of the gospel cause that is the most powerful weapon we have, that and our testimonies. Now Hugo he is doing ok. We taught him the Word of Wisdom and accepted it well. We are just trying to work on getting a date of baptism with him. He says he doesn't want to change religion but he wants to keep going to church and having us over ha ha. So we will see what happens this week and if he doesn't accept baptism we will have to drop him. And I don't know why we didn't play much soccer in Cuautitlan. I guess the leaders didn't want to ha ha. But here we do. On Saturday we had a activity with the young men playing soccer. It was fun. I like playing here. They have little turf fields in a spot and its cool stuff.

Then today we went to the Centro and looked at some stuff and ate. It was good. We went with that family that took us last time to eat. They are sick. They always help us out. Today is Dia de La Virgin Guadalupe. So it should be a little interesting tonight. I think there will be a lotta crazy people outside. ha ha. Oh and we can use Skype so if you want to use that we can. Now the comp, eh he is ok. He doesn't like to live in a clean house so I always have to clean ha ha. It sucks but whatev. Someone has to do it or it won't get done.  I think I will be with him another change here. So I hope we will be fine. He has been out 18 months. So we both have a little bit of time. Ashton was like today man you come home in a couple months! I was like nope still have a little bit ash ha ha. That's sweet Sammy comes home tomorrow! Tell her hi for me. And Israel and her, well you can try if you want mom. It's your choice. I'm here and can't really do anything. She was the last family member I saw before I came to Mexico ha ha. And I don't want to go to a Mexican restaurant when I come home. I want Timbermine. And I don't think I will be able to send my memory card with one of them cause they are in the Estado and Hidalgo so I won't see them I think. So I'm sorry.

That's good to hear that dad likes shooting his guns. I'm glad he does something that is fun. I bet it helps him relieve the stress that he has during the week. That's always good to get rid of that. I'm gonna have some fun toys when I get home it sounds like! And mom ya just punish the little kids. That's the only way some of them learn which sucks but if there isn't any other way that's what has to be done. Ashton tells me he doesn't really like his job now cause the kids are really bad. I'm sorry bout that. At least he is gonna have a break for a while. That will be nice for him. Makelle finally wrote me this week too. Sounds like she is doing good. She wasn't going to school if I remember right. I hope she is doing good in her new house.

Now for the charity. That's something that is always tough for everyone of us. Sometimes its really tough to love someone that has done something to us, but if we can do it, we will become more like Christ cause He is the one that loved everyone of us (even the bad people) to die for us. He is the perfect example of how we need to strive to become like. Even when the people had crucified Him He asked the Father to forgive them. I don't know about you but if someone was killing me for no reason I wouldn't forgive them.  That's what is so great about life, we can change. We can always change thanks to the atonement of Christ. I think that is the most important thing that we can do, change for the better that is.

Now Christmas, sounds like its gonna be cool, what are you gonna get dad and what is dad gonna get you mom? Ashton, I think he will get another snake or something. I can't believe you let him get one of those ha ha. And oh ya I got one of your packages. The one with the shoe stuff. I don't know what that purple color is doing in there but thanks for the effort ha ha. The natural is really good. I don't want to open the beef jerky still cause my comp likes to scavenge. So I gotta keep that on the DL ha ha.   

Well here we are doing ok. We had interviews the other day. They went good with Pres. He is a good guy, really spiritual. I'm glad he is here as our president. And we also got microwaves finally! They are pretty good now I can eat my little pizzas ha ha. But right now we are struggling a little bit cause its tough to find right now cause a lot of people are leaving others have a bunch of plans but we just need to keep working and the Lord will put us in the path of the people or the people in our path. I have been studying in 2 Nephi, I really like all of Nephi just to see how obedient he is in all things and even when the things aren't going so well for him he sticks through it. It's a good example for all of us. When things aren't going our way just keep being obedient and hold on the the iron rod. I love you all and hope you all are doing well. and remembering the Savior in these days. Take care.

1 picture I think is us with Santa

2 is us in the Centro today

3 the fog that was outside our house one day in the morning,

December 5, 2011

Hey mom! I'm doing good here. It sounds like the storm was really crazy from what everyone has told me and the picture that you sent me, that's pretty crazy stuff. ha ha I hope everyone is safe and mom I hope you are feeling better from the sickness. And yes we gave a blessing to a lady last night, a less active. We went to visit her and she was sick and we gave her a blessing and she said she was feeling better right after that! It's amazing how the priesthood works in the lives of the people. We are lucky cause we can participate of those blessings in our lives and homes.

As for this last week went ok. We are finding people but all the people that we found last week are not divorced and living together! So that is a bummer cause the divorces take forever! It doesn't really help us right now. As for Hugo he couldn't go to church yesterday he had to work. He is doing ok. He says he doesn't want to change religion but he says he want to keep going to church and listening to us ha ha. So I don't know what is up with this guy. We will see though. Then today we played soccer. It was fun with the zone. We've got some pretty good athletes here in the zone. And we played some basketball. I tried but all the other white kids had played ball in high school and are a lot taller than me ha ha.  I'm learning a little bit how to play the piano. One elder is teaching me how to do it. It's tough stuff, but I can read the music alright now. Hopefully when I get back I can play a couple hymns.

For the visa, ya we stayed overnight in the offices cause I had to travel 2 hours to the offices from here and we had to leave early in the morning to go to the place to sign the visa. But yes sometimes we have to travel by ourselves when there is nobody else going down. My comp just stayed with the other elders that are here by our area. It was pretty cold that night and I don't like sleeping on those beds in the offices. They aren't comfy. ha ha. Now Smith ya he was in the MTC with me. And ya its crazy I have gained weight here. They just give us a bunch of food and I have to eat it all or they get offended. It's a good thing Ethan is not here. he would gain weight like a mad man with all the delicious food here ha ha. And hey I'm still littler than Ben and Israel so they don't have any room to talk ha ha. And Ben told me about Duke. I have been praying for that homie. I guess they had to take a bunch of things out of his stomach or something. I hope he gets better too. Hopefully he gets married soon too! No way I hope Ben doesn't take that long to get married ha ha or I will probably have like 2 kids by the time he gets married ha ha if he follows his brothers.

And make sure Mia doesn't touch Misti. I'll kill that little dog. Misti is still alive, I cant believe that one ha ha. I thought that she would have died by now, but maybe I will make it back to see her alive. We tried to watch the presentation last night but the church got the power knocked out by something so we could only see a little bit, like it was going but then we would lose power but it would come back and go again. It was like that the whole time. But we might see it again this Sunday. They are going to play it again for the stake. And no I haven't gotten the packages. I think maybe Thursday we are having interviews with president. So we will see how that goes. It's crazy we are almost at Christmas again! It is going by quick the time that's for sure. And I haven't really heard anything about Clark's homecoming. I'll write him and ask him. I would think he would be at Olsen's, but maybe you could ask him when he gets back if I can't find out anything.

Well this week we had a little struggles. I think that this week will go better for us. We taught a lesson earlier today. It went well. They are cool but they can't go to church for awhile cause they are going on vacation. Everybody is going to start going on vacation now. That is gonna be tough and that Christmas is Sunday and new years. hopefully we can do well those days. Thanks for the prayers and the love. I told Israel and Ben they could go over and talk on Christmas. If that's ok with you mom cause you are the boss of that ha ha. So you tell them if they can or not. But I love you and thanks for everything. I will have pictures next week hopefully to send you. Take care.

November 28, 2011

Hey Mom! It's good to hear from you once again. Here in Queretaro we are doing ok. This last week went ok. We found a boxer dude and we are teaching him. He is a little weird but he is cool. His name is Hugo. We are gonna see if we can help him out with his problems. But that is a pretty crazy little story about Brent. I hope he is fine and good to go. Thanksgiving here was lame, we didn't do anything so it was a bummer. Here in the mission the American holidays just aren't the same. Especially if your not with another American. Did you guys buy anything for black Friday or what? Or just looked. I heard that some people were shooting at a Walmart or something like that. Who knows. It sounds like St. George was fun. It was cold here last night so it was the first cold night. I think now it's going to start getting more colder from now. And I'm disappointed you guys didn't do turkey. If we don't do turkey next year I will be an unhappy camper.

Well last night I had to go to the offices to sign my visa again. We went today to DF and I signed that bad boy. I don't like traveling and I had to go by myself. So it was a little uncomfortable, the ride from here to the offices. I don't like sleeping in the offices cause the beds aren't that good and the pillows suck worse ha ha. But we went today and I saw Elder Smith, the one from Morgan and he was in the MTC with me. He is doing good. We were talking about how fast the time was going. But oh ya important news!! I had to weigh myself last night and I weighed 70 kilos. I guess that it's like 150 pounds!! I can finally gain weight ha ha. It's only fat but hey that's better than before cause I couldn't gain a pound to save my life ha ha. So I'm stoked about that one. Then also today we ate at Carl's Jr! That was a little piece of heaven there. It's way expensive down here but man it was worth every peso.

Now this last week on work, I feel that we did a lot better. We only brought Hugo to the church but I felt that we were doing more to find people than before. Talking to a lot more people and giving the chance to the people to accept a visit from us. That's what I have seen lately. We just need to talk to the people and invite them to listen. If we do that we will fulfill our purpose cause they will be using their agency. So that is what we are focused on my comp and me. trying to just talk to more people by knocking contacting in the street or with the members to get them excited to talk to their friends.

I have had to take out some money cause my comp didn't have anything i had to go to the offices and i was running out too. So now we are running low again but we only have like 2 more days until the money gets here. My comp owes me a pretty penny ha ha. But I like Queretaro. It's so much cleaner and prettier than the Estado de Mexico. The work is a little harder but I like it better here. That's also good that dad and Ben and Israel did a good job on their talks. I bet they did good. As for my Spanish its good I think. I don't really have any problems with saying stuff. If I don't know the exact word I can describe it then the people or my comp understands me. I like Spanish. It's cool. Maybe when I get back I'll teach your kids a little Spanish mommy. ha ha But you need to learn first! Now the buses here, they are kinda like the UTA ones, but a lot more people use them here ha ha. Sometimes they are packed way tight. I bet Ben knows what I'm talking about. You can ask him about them.

Now I'm grateful since it was Thanksgiving last week, I am grateful for the gospel in my life. The truth I didn't really understand the importance of the church before the mission. But being here I realize how blessed I am cause I don't have addictions, I don't have a baby, I didn't get taught apostasia as they say here in the mission, as in wrong churches. ha ha Really the church keeps us out of trouble and helps us live a better life cause we are doing what Heavenly Father wants us to do. That's the most important part. And when we mess up we have the Atonement of Jesus Christ to help us change and get better. That's the most important thing on the earth. The opportunity to change and to get better. Well that's it for this one. I hope you are all good and I hope that you are getting questions ready for the phone call home! Take care and I love you all.

Picture: This is my comp and another comp from Uruguay. My comp is the browner one.

November 21, 2011

Hey Mom! Wow I can't believe Ashton cut his hair!! haha That is sweet stuff, I'm stoked to see that picture of him! That's sweet. Good job ash. You look like a stud man, for real though. Now this week for Thanksgiving I think we won't do anything again haha. I heard there is an American in the stake and he might do something for the American missionaries but who knows what will happen. Now here it's sweet. We have a bunch of things in my area. Everyone has money here so its crazy cause I'm usually in the poorer areas. But here, nope. Everyone has a car. Now elder Delgado is cool.  He has a little different accent but not much cause he has more time than me here in Mexico so his accent doesn't really sound bad. And no he doesn't really speak English. I'm teaching him some but we will see how it goes. That's sweet that Israels homecoming went well. And yes I bet he is way out going now. haha.  I think I'm a lot more out going as well. Not a ton but a little bit. And Ben already rockin the facial hair. what a scrub.

Wow that's crazy that Clayton is already going on his mission too. The time has gone by pretty quick I'm not gonna lie. And Elder Clark still doesn't know when his homecoming is going to be. I talked to him on Sunday. So I'll let you know when I know when his is going to be. And I do know elder Taylor. He is a cool kid.  Now for here in Queretaro. I'm in the other side of Queretaro. I'm in the other stake here. My area is big, there are some big hills too haha. And everyone has money well not everyone but a bunch of people do. Today a hermano took us to Costco. So I bought some stuff. I'm excited to eat some stuff, like peanut butter the Mrs fields cookies, the sour worms. Ya, it's sweet here in Queretaro, the members help us a lot here with everything. And Elder Logan is in my same ward he is just in the other area cause the ward area is huge.  We need 2 companionship's to be in it. But he is doing good to. His Spanish has gotten better. So that's a good thing. And no mom I don't have my tree. I would like another one. They are cool haha. Elder Logan is from pleasant grove mommy, same place as elder Clark. And I can get Liahonas, they are in the offices and I can get them free.

Well this last week went ok. We reactivated a family and we are trying to baptize their two kids. The only problem is that the kids are 15 and 18 so they are going to be a little more difficult. And all the people that we have in teaching need to get divorced and married!! haha It takes forever, that process so we hope it will go better this week and that we can find a couple people to get to church with us. Me and my comp get along well. Oh ya, last week we didn't have light for a couple days cause they didn't pay the light bill so I got there and we had to buy some candles haha. It sucked but now we have light again cause we went and payed it. Here the camiones or buses take a lot longer to pass by. That sucks, we wait sometime for like 45 mins for a bus to pass by. And it sucks cause when that happens the bus is way full!! But I like it for some reason when its way full its more exciting the ride haha. What more, the church is way far away from the house. That sucks too. Oh and a member took us to a steak house and man it was sweet stuff the meat was called arrachera. Man, it was bomb! I'll send you a pic at the place.

Now this week, I really like the studying time that we have as missionaries. The hour that we have of personal time goes by way quick. I have learned a lot of stuff and there is still soo much to learn. I'm in 1 Nefi right now and I just admire how Nefi is so obedient and never complains in what ever situation he is in. Like when he had to build a boat or when his brothers tied him to the boat and his hands were swollen when they untied him and he was happy still! I'm trying to learn from his example cause its tough sometimes here and I complain haha. So I am trying to do that even when things aren't going my way try to fight my way through and always give thanks to the Lord for what he has given me. I think it is something that we can all do better. I still can't believe ash cut his hair!! It's killing me.  But anyways the work here is getting better we just need to keep going forward and not back. Oh and one more quote for you guys by Pres. Monson, "Fill your heart with love fill your mind with truth and fill your live with service". I read it in a Liahona in Spanish so I think that's about the right translation. I know the is the Lord's church. The Book of Mormon is true. The work will continue to go forward. Love you all and take care!

first pic is me and the background of Queretaro

second is my comp and me with the family that took us to Costco and to eat arrachera.

November 14, 2011

Hey mom! Wow the letter this time is really long haha. That's cool stuff. Here I'm back in Queretaro! I'm in the other zone this time though. I'm with a Peru elder. His name is Elder Delgado. We will see how it goes here. He tells me that the members are more involved in the work here so I'm excited for that cause there was only a couple people that helped in my last ward.

Now that's sweet that Ben did well on his homecoming talk. What about Israel? Did he speak or what? lemme know here soccer is big. Everybody likes soccer mom you already know that haha. Here the only team that there is in the mission is Queretaro, but I like las Chivas in Guadalajara. haha They don't kill people here in Queretaro. It's chill here. Eric and Ian who? Eyre or what? But that's sweet. That's sweet that Arturo wants to go on a mission. That's what its all about. The mission makes men that's for sure haha.

As for our week last week it went well. We brought Angel to church and he should be getting baptized next Sunday. He was sad that I was leaving but that's how it goes. I don't like saying bye to the members and converts cause they are people that I love. So it's difficult but something that we have to do here. As for Olsen and Clark Olsen's homecoming is the 1st. Clark still doesn't know. They are coming home the e19th. So I am gonna send some stuff home with one of them I hope. And of course mom you can send another book of Mormon if you would like to. My shoes are fine mom! I trade em out everyday so they don't get so beat up like everybody's shoes. I like to keep em nice haha. And for shirts and all that I just want some more ties. I don't have that many cause I gave some to some people in the last ward.  The dogs, I haven't had a problem with any dog. I haven't got bitten. Only one time a little doggy bit my pants but I kicked em and he went away. So we are good here haha. And the helmet was in a house of a menos active that I went to visit. He works in the red cross here. A chilange is somebody born in the DF or the estado de Mexico, they talk funny haha.

Now the temple was really good. We went as a zone but we went in combi!! It sucks in combi but luckily here in Queretaro they are all buses so its a lot better. That's sick about the 49ers. They are finally good!! haha Hopefully they are good next year, too.

Now for here I'm excited to be back in Queretaro. I guess the Lord needs me back here for a reason. Maybe I didn't do it right the first time haha. But I'm ready to work the ward sounds good and we have a couple people in teaching. Elder Logan is also in the ward with us, but in another area. So I will see him a little bit too. I'm excited for that. I also agree with Ben, we all need to share the gospel even though sometimes it is hard cause we don't know how to do it. But if we open our mouths Heavenly Father will give us the words to say so that we can speak with power and the spirit. I have seen it in action here in the mission and it is the same when we want to share it with our friends so they can also enjoy of the blessings. I know that this is the true church. We have the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and the fullness of the Gospel I know its true. Keep doing what is right and we will receive more blessings from Heavenly Father. Now here is a pic with my buddy Ricardo. He is sick. He always helped us out in our area. I don't like good byes haha. They are tough. Blanca and Roberto were pretty bummed too. But they will keep strong in the gospel and the church. That is the most important thing. Well gotta go. I will have more stuff this next week. I'll let you know how it goes. Love you all!

Elder Malan